This
is NOT your parents' Social Studies course! The World Affairs Challenge
encourages young people to discover and explore exciting new content as
they work with peers on a collaborative project. The program challenges
young people to think about their relationship to the rest of our world
while taking part in a fun competition. Four events, focused on an overarching
annual theme, assess student knowledge about what's going on in the world
and highlight students' creativity, analytical, and presentation skills.

The 2006
World Affairs Challenge participants will investigate a timeless and universal
topic: conflict. The goal for this years Challenge participants
is to acquire a greater understanding of the dynamics of conflict: the
reasons that conflicts begin, the consequences that follow, and the organizations
that seek to prevent or resolve disputes. While the United States may
be involved in the conflict that is the subject of presentation, the primary
focus MUST be outside of the United States.

Our 11th-Graders
from Foothills Academy are divided into 2 teams of 7 students each. Each
team is researching a conflict in the DR, planning a presentation, and
presenting it. One team is investigating environmental conflicts with
the Pomier
Anthropological Reserve
(the location of 4T's 2006
Summer Camp Alternative),
while the other is focusing on illicit drug traffic through the DR to
the US.

Trip
Highlights

Unparalleled experiential
learning opportunities!

Travel across the
entire Dominican Republic from the Caribbean Sea to the Atlantic Ocean!

Stay in the historic
Colonial Zone!

Tour and camp in
the Pomier Anthropological Reserve!

Two Service Projects!

Tour and stay in
Santiago de los Caballeros, considered the most "Dominican"
of all cities!

Visits to Cultural
Museums and Public Markets!

Spend two days
living with the Tremblay family at Jardin de Niños!

Explore the El
Choco National Park!

Free time on Cabarete
Beach!

Mangrove lagoon
boat tour and free time on Playa Grande Beach in Rio San Juan!

Stay at the unique
Blue Moon Retreat!

Horseback riding
with River Tubing!

All meals included!

All ground transportation
included!

Trip
Descriptive Itinerary

Day
1: Saturday, April 29, 2006

Arrival to Santo
Domingo Las Americas Airport (SDQ)

Airport transfer
to Colonial Zone (.75 hour)

Hotel Check-in

Orientation &
Snacks

Accommodations
in Santo Domingo.

Day
2: Sunday, April 30, 2006

Breakfast at hotel

Pomier Anthropological
Reserve Briefing

Lunch at Meson
de Daniel

Transfer to Pomier,
San Cristobal (1 hour)

Tour of Cave Number
OneCuevas
de Pomiér Anthropological Reserve
which is located about an hour's drive west of Santo Domingo on the
outskirts of San Cristobal is the only region in the country specifically
designated for the protection of a subterranean ecosystem and it is
the single most important pre-Columbian site in the Caribbean. With
more 6000 recorded pictographs and around 500 petroglyphs pertaining
to several distinct indigenous populations, the Cuevas de Pomier are,
in anthropological importance, for the Caribbean what the Pyramids of
Giza are for Egypt and the Altamira and Lascaux Caves are for Europe.
Cave Number One has 590 pictographs; more than are found in all other
locations in the Minor Antilles put together. We spend the afternoon
exploring this cave which provides insights into the Pre-Columbian origins
of humans in the Caribbean with Dominican environmental activist, journalist
and Espeleogrupo Santo Domingo President, Domingo
Abreu.

Dinner in camp

Accommodations
in Pomier

Day
3: Monday, May 1, 2006

Breakfast in camp

Touring of other
caves in reserve

Observation of
mining facilities

Lunch in camp

Service Project

Hike to La Toma
for a swim

Dinner in San Cristobal

Accommodations
in Pomier

Day
4: Tuesday, May 2, 2006

Breakfast in camp

Transfer to Santiago
(2.5 hours)

Check-in to hotel

Lunch in Santiago

Relax

Walk to Monument
Area & City Touring

Dinner in Monument
Area

Accommodations
in Santiago

Day
5: Wednesday, May 3, 2006

Breakfast

City Tour

Jimenez Cultural
Museum and Cigar Factory

Lunch at Don Andres

Transfer to Jardin
de Niños, Los Brazos (1.75 hours)

Tour of Jardin
de Niños

Dinner at Jardin
de Niños

Accommodations
in Los Brazos

Day
6: Thursday, May 4, 2006

Breakfast at Jardin
de Niños

Service Project

Lunch at Jardin
de Niños

Service Project

Dinner at Jardin
de Niños

Play with the kids

Accommodations
in Los Brazos

Day
7: Friday, May 5, 2006

Breakfast

Transfer bags to
Blue Moon (.25 hour)

Transfer to Cabarete
(.25 hour)

National
Park Hike & Caves of BUMBAJoin us on a true
walking-adventure into the past in discovery of the real Dominican Republic.
Following red-earth paths walked by the Arawak Indians winding through
small Dominican communities and tropical rain forest we hike up to our
own hidden spot for a fresh fruit snack and an incredible view of the
8 kilometer long Cabarete lagoon. Enjoy authentic, locally grown Dominican
coffee while learning about the 36 species of birds and 862 species
of plants thriving around you. Formed as long as 25 million years ago
in the Miocene Period, the ancient rock formations are unique to the
North Coast of the DR and hold many secrets for us to explore. Subterranean
rivers and caves abound throughout the park home to plants and animals
that have become completely accustomed to life in the dark. Venture
with us down into the mysterious Caves of BUMBA for a cool swim in truly
pristine water and glimpses into prehistory. 12 of the 18 species of
bats found in the DR are living within the boundaries of the park, and,
if we are lucky, we might catch a few sleeping!

Lunch at El Tigre

Free time on Cabarete
Beach

Dinner Pomorodo

Accommodations
in Los Brazos

Day
8: Saturday, May 6, 2006

Breakfast at Blue
Moon

Transfer to Río
San Juan (1.25 hours)

Boat tour of mangrove
lagoon and coastal area

Lunch on Playa
Grande

Beach time on Playa
Grande

Transfer to Blue
Moon (1.25 hours)

Dinner at Blue
Moon

Accommodations
in Los Brazos

Day
9: Sunday, May 7, 2006

Breakfast at Blue
Moon

Horseback
Riding & Tubing with Rancho NorteEnjoy your day in
the foothills of the northern most mountain range in the Dominican Republic
while on horseback, along with tubing in the Yásica River. This
ride starts way out in the back county, and includes refreshments, a
light meal, guides, and round-trip transportation. Rating: All riding
levels. Not recommended for first time riders. Swimmers only.

Lunch at the ranch

Evening free at
Blue Moon

Dinner at Blue
Moon

Accommodations
in Los Brazos

Day
10: Monday, May 8, 2006

Breakfast at Blue
Moon

Transfer to Santo
Domingo (3.5 hours)

Lunch in Santo
Domingo

Airport drop off
(2:00 p.m.) & departure

Accommodations

Hotel
Antiguo Europa (3-star)Colonial Zone, Santo DomingoNight 1 Accommodations offer a selection of 52 guest rooms, most with balconies,
designed to offer every comfort for tourists and business travelers. Our
hotel has been meticulously restored to most of its original colonial
period. All rooms feature private bathrooms, air conditioning, in room
safety deposit box, cable tv, and telephone with Internet. Based on double
occupancy with two persons sharing a full-size bed.

Pomier Anthropological
Reserve (camping)Pomier-Borbon, San CristobalNights 2 & 3We will
be primitive camping adjacent to the National Park office in 6 and
4-person tents.

Eureka
6-Person, 2-Room Tetragon

Kelty
4-Person Teton

Hotel
Colonial (1-star)Santiago de Los Caballeros
Night 4
Set right in the heart of the downtown shopping district, Hotel Colonial
is as "Santiago" as you can get. Rooms are simple and humble
featuring a bed, fan and private bathroom. Hotel Colonial is a favorite
of student travelers and Peace Corps volunteers.

Jardin
de Niños (bunkhouse)Los Brazos, Septentrional Mountains
Nights 5 & 6
Since her arrival to the Dominican Republic from Quebec in 1982 Paulina
Tremblay has adopted 27 Dominican and Haitian children. As if raising
an immense family as a single woman in the Dominican backcountry was not
enough, Paulina has also founded two schools. Her schools, Jardin de Niños
in Los Brazos, and Escuela La Libertad in Sabaneta de Yásica, are
unique in that they cater to the needs of poor children in the local rural
area. These children would otherwise be unable to receive an education
for a lack of funds to cover the required school uniform and textbooks.

Once a successful
businesswoman, Paulina spent her savings on the purchase of land for her
family home and her public schools and now lives solely by donations and
fundraising efforts. She is very active in her community and assists local
needy families by passing along donations of food, furniture, clothing,
and mosquito nets. She has also opened a small second hand store that
offers quality goods at a low price.

Jardin de Niños
is not an orphanage; it is a home. An invitation to stay at Jardin de
Niños is a privilege, an honor and an experience that is not soon
forgotten.

Blue
Moon Retreat(bungalows)Los Brazos, Septentrional Mountains
Nights 7,8 & 9
Blue Moon's four artistically simplistic bungalows with six suites and
two family suites have private bath with hot & cold water, fan, spacious
living area, small library, 110v outlets, small patio and their own distinctive
decor. Our guests enjoy 360 degrees views of mountain farmland and ocean,
international cuisine specializing in East Indian, pool, daily housekeeping,
laundry service, deluxe complementary country breakfast served 7:30 am
to 11:00 am, full service bar, and backup battery system and generator.